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April 28, 2023
As the sports industry gathered this week at the prestigious SportsPro Live 2023 and the FEVO Sport Industry Awards 2023 in the UK, we were pleased to have the opportunity to highlight the work of the Sport Together Fund delivered by Beyond Sport. The Fund provides grants and capacity-building support to non-profit organizations, sports clubs and collectives who are assisting communities facing conflict, human rights violations and persecution. With an initial focus on fostering “Leadership Together,” the inaugural grantees are promoting well-being, inclusivity and hope through sports-based leadership training opportunities for refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable communities.
“The FEVO Sport Industry Awards is the biggest night of the year and celebrates the best of the industry while the two days of learning at SportsPro Live are another key moment. The combination offers a compelling focus for the industry to reflect great work and to look forward to what partnerships and innovation will shape the future…,” said Nick Keller, Beyond Sport Founder and Board Chair.
“Connecting and inspiring over 1000 sports business professionals,” the 10th edition of SportsPro Live took place at the Kia Oval in London from 25th – 26th April. Beyond Sport hosted a booth where attendees could learn more about the Fund and a panel on how sport can support, uplift and rebuild communities facing humanitarian crises around the world. Featuring Girl Power Organisation (Fund grantee) Founder, Khalida Popal, Athlead CEO and Expert Advisory Group member, Kat Craig, and Nick Keller, it was moderated by Fund Consulting Advisor Lucy Mills. The insightful discussion explored the realities that those with refugee experiences are facing and the positive impact the sport sector can have on the issue.
“The word refugee is heavy. It takes time to own it. There are many challenges that come with being a refugee, being judged by the colour of our skin or our background, but the most difficult aspect is the loss of identity. When you’re an athlete you have dreams to play sport for your country and to go from being someone at home to no one in your host country is an immense hardship,” said Popal, former Afghan women’s national football team captain and an asylum seeker who re-settled in Denmark. She went on to share how the Sport Together Fund has helped support her organisation’s leadership training program for marginalised women and girls with refugee experiences.
Echoing this was human rights lawyer Craig who works with athletes directly facing prosecution or who have fled their homes. “We as an industry need to be careful because there are circumstances where we’ve put lives at risk. There’s more as an industry that we can do, both at an elite level helping athletes regain the opportunity to compete, and at a grassroots level supporting young people who have been forced to flee their homes. We need to do our due diligence through a human rights lens and integrate trauma-informed approaches to our processes in order to keep our spaces safe.”
Keller reinforced the importance of collaboration for people affected by humanitarian crises stating that, “often when you lose your community, you turn to sport to re-build something. But how can we make an impact together and a positive one that doesn’t endanger others in the process? The Sport Together Fund is the best solution we’ve seen.”
Two days later at Evolution London, our sister company Sport Industry Group (SIG) held its Awards, one of the biggest annual events on the UK sport industry calendar. The 2023 Awards – attended by over 1,600 senior executives in sport – celebrated the sector’s finest work while also recognizing sport as a powerful platform to drive social change. The Sport Together Fund had a special moment on the night, just one year after it made its debut at last year’s awards in a moving video that highlighted our grantees across Europe.
At the Awards, Girl Power Organisation’s Popal announced the Active and Wellbeing Award which went to Studio You. After, sports presenter and event co-host Laura Woods asked her a few questions about her experience.
“I always strive for purpose in my life. As a refugee living in Denmark, my mission is to create opportunity, to change the negative narrative surrounding refugees and inspire…Girl Power uses education and sport to empower women and girls. As part of our program, we supported the Afghan women’s football team who are now evacuated from Afghanistan and we’re very thankful to receive the Sport Together Fund to boost our impact,” she shared.
When the world faces challenges, the world of sport has consistently stepped up with solutions and hope. Both events reflected what is possible when the sports sector comes together. Beyond Sport thanks the Sport Industry Group and SportsPro Live for supporting the Sport Together Fund and providing platforms to focus attention on one of the biggest humanitarian issues facing the world today – and how community sports organizations are making a positive impact.
“In times of heightened instability, like the evolving refugee crisis, it’s important to Beyond Sport to be able to meet the needs of organizations who are assisting affected communities where they are — being flexible in our approach and adapting to their individual situations,” said Fred Turner, Executive Director of Beyond Sport. “We always seek to be intentional with our grants, guided by research and community experts, to best serve those who are serving others. When NGOs have the space to take a needs-based approach, supported by flexible but purposeful funding, the impact is immeasurably stronger.”
Learn more about the #SportTogether Fund and please consider making a donation to support our efforts. If you’re interested in partnership, you can email [email protected].
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